Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Bleach powder hazard?

  • Bleach powder hazard?

    Posted by David on April 18, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    Hi, has anyone tried mixing bleach powder formulations?

    Can you use a blender or do you need a special equipment?
    They contain persulfates…which are strong oxidation agents.
    Typical INCI : Sodium Persulfate, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Stearate, Silica, Ammonium Persulfate, Hydroxymethyl Cellulose, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer,
    RobertG replied 8 years, 1 month ago 7 Members · 11 Replies
  • 11 Replies
  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    April 18, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    in my view you’d be best off seeking specialist advice

    depending on the batch sizes involved and the particle size of the finished product, mixing and filling powder bleach can potentially be a HUGE fire hazard

    because of this (and because our site in the middle of a residential area), we’ve always subcontracted it to a third-party manufacturer

  • David

    Member
    April 18, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    Bill_Toge :thanks, specialist advice is exactly what I am seeking!

    I should have added I am only interested in lab-scale formulating - Do I need special equipment for that?
    It doesn’t seem to have any alarming hazards lab-scale
    http://www.pantherindustriesinc.com/msds/AmmoniumPersulphate.PDF 

    I know it is hazardous to produce and fill it.
  • belassi

    Member
    April 18, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    You need the advice of an industrial chemist rather than a cosmetic chemist. I don’t know enough about possible reactions to advise you. Some bleaches - for instance peroxides - combine with all sorts of lab materials, especially solvents, to form high explosives.

  • David

    Member
    April 18, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    thanks Belassi - you are right - I try to search elsewhere -  I feel neither my (old) inorganic chemistry courses or usual cosmetic chemistry knowledge is enough here.

  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    April 19, 2016 at 9:03 am

    @David you won’t need specialist equipment in the lab; the most appropriate precautions would be to use a dust mask at all times, don’t mix it using equipment made from any other metal than good quality stainless steel, and keep it away from moisture and sources of ignition

  • ashish

    Member
    April 19, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Its a Solid-Solid mixing, but generally bleach is highly irritant and harmful to inhale. I faced some of the dangerous incident while mixing in lab becoz of quick formation of peroxide. U can use Zip lock plastic bags for mixing along with safety gloves and mask. If possible, better to carry out under supervision of experienced chemist.

  • David

    Member
    April 19, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Thanks Bill_Toge

    ashish: how did you get peroxide formation?

    I am not so worried about the powder itself - I use of course standard protection like gloves mask and safety glasses . What I am worried about is whether this mixture can ignite or explode in a simple kitchen blender like this one:
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CT9Y41Q

  • Ayla

    Member
    April 19, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    I agree with @Bill_Toge . I used to do it (lab scale only, you need special equipements for big batches) with gloves, mask and a good quality little kitchen mixer (like the ones for baby). Using a zip lock plastic bag is a good idea too. Be carefull with water and it will go well !

  • David

    Member
    April 20, 2016 at 10:35 am

    Thank you all !- I feel a bit more comfortable regarding this project now.

  • Bobzchemist

    Member
    April 20, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    Just be careful.

  • RobertG

    Member
    April 20, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    I’d be very careful mixing persulfates with a fuel such as sodium stearate in a dry state. With the ammonium sulfate in there, even traces of transition metals could sensitize the mixture. The friction of a kitchen blender could be enough to ignite it, not to mention the possibility of a dust of it reaching the motor housing, where electric sparks could occur.

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